Monthly Archives: September 2011

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The Still Water Foundation has just awarded KLRU-TV a $25,000 grant to help establish the Inspiration Fund.

The Inspiration Fundis an opportunity for donors to support comprehensive services at our station: local productions, outreach and education activities including Ready To Learn, Community Screenings, Community Cinema and Spark! @ The Moody Theater. Each of these elements frames KLRU as a trusted window to the world with universal access to educational and creative content in and beyond Austin.

KLRU is deeply grateful to the Still Water Foundation for its past support of our station. Their continued investment in our mission will help bring pioneering programs, authentic engagement and meaningful acquisitions to Central Texans. Thank you!

As your PBS station, it is KLRU’s mission to bring people together around important issues. KLRU does this through various educational and outreach initiatives. This year, KLRU will present 2nd Half of Life project. Created for one of the best-educated, healthiest, and most privileged generations in American history — the Boomers — the series aims to help people reinvent life after the age of 50. In the coming months, 2nd Half of Life presents episodes of Growing Bolder on Sundays at 10:30 am.

Upcoming episodes:

October 2 – “Risk Takers”
Marking a Big Birthday In Style – Tattoos are no longer taboo. They’ve gone mainstream in a big way and like just about everything else, the fastest-growing market segment is baby boomers. Come along as Andrea Kudlacz celebrates her 60th birthday. Tiger the Red-Faced Golfer – Tiger Woods’ messy love life has spawned 1,000 jokes and late-night skits. And musician Golf Brooks knows a good punchline when he sees one, so he’s composed his own tribute to the fender bender heard ’round the world. Brave Warrior: WWI Veteran’s Story – World War I was known as “The War To End All Wars.” It didn’t. As its veterans have died off, so has the memory of how costly a war it was. All in all, more than 70, 000,000 people served in uniform, of which a staggering one-half were either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Fatalities were so high that the number of deaths averaged 230 for each hour of the four years the fighting lasted. Fly Like an Eagle…Indoors – What goes up must come down. That’s why you hesitate to try skydiving. But what if you could get a similar experience just a few feet off the floor? Step inside an indoor windtunnel where beginners and experts alike practice and experience freefall.
October 9 – “Dreams Come True”
Video Game Paradise – Otronicon attracts kids of all ages – and it turns out, some of the best video gamers are boomers! We take you inside a cutting-edge convention and put you in the driver’s seat. Romancing the Road – This is an unusual love story involving an 89-year-old woman and her beloved Chariot. The two have been together for decades and traveled more than 540,000 miles across this nation’s highways and side streets. Evans Fish Farm – The experts said it couldn’t be done. But recently, one pioneer had a major breakthrough that could spawn a whole new industry and an unprecedented opportunity for large scale production of the holy grail of aqua farming: caviar. Bill Booth: Adventures in the Air – He should be on everyone’s list of most incredible characters. Bill Booth is an inventor, entrepreneur, and adventurer. He’s built an amazing life around doing what he loves. Don’t take our word for it. Just watch this story. You’ll see things you’ve never seen before.

October 16 – “Passion For Living”
Hunter Kemper: Family Man – Hunter Kemper is the most decorated triathlete in US history and has his sights set on his 4th Olympics in 2012. But this time he’ll be competing for more than his country and himself. He reveals how the birth of his own child inspired him to make a difference in the lives of other children. Edison Inventor – He owned three business and had over 70 employees, yet he couldn’t understand why he was miserable. It’s a story about finding purpose in life. We’ll introduce you to a man who reinvented himself by becoming America’s most famous inventor. Jim Henson’s Legacy – Jim Henson’s untimely departure from this world left a huge hole in our hearts that has yet to be filled. It’s because his work also had a soul. His characters, creations, TV shows and films all had common elements of … decency! There was an undercurrent of optimism, of empathy and encouragement that permeated nearly every project he worked on.

October 23 – “American Spirit”
Age is Just a Number – Maybe one of the most famous “Growing Bolder” stories in the Olympics comes from Dara Torres. She was the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympics and the oldest female swimmer in the history of the Games. Now, her new book candidly reveals the challenge of going after a seemingly impossible dream. The Roots of Bluegrass – The newest craze in music is one of the oldest – bluegrass! Its true roots lie with the common folks, like Johnny Adams, who fell so in love with the mandolin that he now makes his own! Kazoo Rebuttal – When we heard that the residents of The Villages, Florida – one of the biggest retirement communities in the world – were planning to try and break a world record for the kazoo, we decided to document the day. We had fun, but it seems one person didn’t appreciate our coverage. So, we bring you the kazoo rebuttal – starting with a look at the story that got it all started. Tech Minute: Augmented Reality – You know those yellow first down lines you see on televised football games? It’s the perfect example of one of the hottest new tech trends – augmented reality. Joe Kittinger: Aviation Legend – In 1984, at the age of 56, fighter pilot, daredevil and American aviation hero Joseph P. Kittinger Jr. made aviation history when he became the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo in a balloon. Pick Up a Brush and Paint! – Who says you need training to be an artist? Earl Nash was completely self-taught and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Find out how you can discover your inner Picasso and put your own passion on the canvas.

October 30 – “Never Give Up”
I Will Never Give Up – Scot Weiss loves what he’s doing but admits it’s a daily struggle. Weiss left a promising career in finance to chase an American dream – inventing a product and starting a company. Now, he’s discovering the importance of belief and the power of persistence. How Did They Get That Photo? – In 40 years as a photojournalist, Red Huber covered some of the biggest news events of our time. Some of his most famous – and breathtaking – photos are his shots of space shuttle launches. How does he do it? Tech Minute: Tech Trends – Twitter, YouTube, GPS…all words many of us didn’t know five years ago, and now we use them on a daily basis! So what are the next tech trends? Time to take a look. Hurdling the Generation Gap – Brooks Johnson is a 76-year-old Hall of Fame track coach who has coached an athlete at every Olympics since 1968. David Oliver is a 28-year-old superstar destined to become the greatest high hurdler of all time. Together, Johnson and Oliver are rewriting the record books and proving the power of intergenerational relationships. The Voice of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra – Kay Davis auditioned on a dare, and the next thing she knew, she was the vocalist of one of the greatest bands of all time.

Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, the three-part documentary series Prohibition at 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the era it encompassed.

Part one of Prohibition on Sunday at 7 and 9 p.m, A Nation of Drunkards, depicts the rise of the temperance campaign following the end of the Civil War, which proves to be both celebratory for prohibitionists as well as dissatisfying in regards to enforcing the 18th Amendment.

Part two of Prohibition on Monday at 7 and 9 p.m. tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the era it encompassed. Part two of the series, A Nation of Scofflaws, examines the problems of enforcing Prohibition laws in 1920, as millions of law-abiding Americans become lawbreakers overnight.

Part three of Prohibition on Tuesday at 7 and 9 p.m., tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the era it encompassed. Part three of the series, A Nation of Hypocrites, examines the diminishing support for Prohibition in the mid-1920s as the playfulness of sneaking around for a drink gives way to disenchantment with its glaring unintended consequences.

Through DNA analysis and other research, Nature at 7 p.m. Wednesday chronicles the evolution of dogs and how they infiltrated human society on part one of “Dogs That Changed The World”.

Nova at 8 p.m. Wednesday attempts to answer the question: How did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights? Nova’s team of scientists reveals the hidden formulas, drawn from the pages of the Bible itself, that drove medieval builders ever upward on “Building The Great Cathedrals”.

Nova at 9 p.m. Wednesday presents “Quest for Solomon’s Mines”, an investigation of the illuminated legend King Solomon that reveals the source of the great wealth that powered the first mighty Biblical kingdoms.

Starting at 10 am each Saturday, KLRU Create offers viewers themed programming to get you started on various projects. KLRU Create is on channel 18.2 over the air.

October 1
Journey to Latin America
Travel the Caribbean and South America in honor of Hispanic Heritage month. Art Wolfe, Richard Bangs and Joseph Rosendo will take you to Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and beyond. You’ll be overwhelmed by the rich history, beautiful landscapes and cultural experiences. Tune in and celebrate Latin America!

October 15
Girly Girl
Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what girly girls are made of. In this crafty marathon Georgia Bonesteel, Donna Dewberry, Vicki Payne and Sloan Payne Rutter make items that a little girl would adore. Whether it’s a room makeover, a fairy castle made from recycled items or room accessories with the perfect feminine touch, the little girl in your life will feel pretty in pink!

October 22
O Canada
From major metropolitan cities to endless green forests, there’s something for everyone in Canada. Our favorite globe trotters Darley Newman, Joseph Rosendo and Rudy Maxa will take us across the American border to experience the glory of Canada. The itinerary includes Quebec, Alberta, Vancouver and Toronto. Canada, the true North strong and free!

October 29
Autumn Harvest
As the weather gets cooler, we look ahead to harvest time. P. Allen picks vegetables straight from his backyard garden. Katie Brown and Caprial & John Spence share apple and pumpkin recipes. Then, pull your chair up to the table for comfort food with Christina Pirello, Rachel Allen and Chris Kimball. This year’s harvest will be delicious.

The Austin American-Statesman calls cellist Bion Tsang and pianist Anton Nel “two of Austin’s busiest virtuosos,” and their newest live CD, featuring Brahms Sonatas for Cello and Four Hungarian Dances, is the latest chapter in their two-decade musical kinship. In this episode of Arts In Context, airing Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 pm; Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1:30 pm, the duo has selected some of their favorite pieces for cello/piano from Brahms, Boccherini, Grieg, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich.

Nature: Dogs That Changed The World – Part 1
From the tiniest Chihuahua to the largest St. Bernard, all dogs claim the wolf as their ancestor. Using DNA analysis and other research, scientists have now pieced together the puzzle of canine evolution, creating a fascinating picture of some of the essential dogs vital to the canine population. Part one chronicles the evolution of dogs and how they infiltrated human society.
NOVA: Building The Great Cathedrals
Carved from 100 million pounds of stone, soaring effortlessly atop a spiderweb of masonry, Gothic cathedrals are marvels of human achievement and artistry. But how did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights? Consuming the labor of entire towns, sometimes taking 100 years to build, these architectural marvels were crafted from just hand tools and stone. Many now teeter on the brink of catastrophic collapse. To save them, an international team of engineers, architects, art historians and computer scientists searches the naves, bays, and bell towers for clues to how the dream of these heavenly temples on earth came true. NOVA’s teams perform hands-on experiments to investigate and reveal the architectural secrets that the cathedral builders used to erect their soaring, glass-filled walls. This program reveals the hidden formulas, drawn from the pages of the Bible itself, that drove medieval builders ever upward.
NOVA: Quest For Solomon’s Mines
Inspired by the Bible’s account of the splendor of his temples and palaces adorned in glittering gold and copper, countless treasure-seekers have set off in search of King Solomon’s mines. They have trekked through burning deserts and scaled the forbidding mountains of Africa and the Levant. Yet to date, the evidence that’s been claimed to support the existence of Solomon and other early kingdoms in the Bible has been highly controversial. In fact, there is so little physical evidence of the kings who ruled Israel and Edom that many contend that they are no more real than King Arthur. During the summer of 2010, NOVA and National Geographic embarked on two groundbreaking expeditions to expose new clues buried in the pockmarked desert of Jordan: the ancient remnants of a mass industrial-scale copper mine and a 3,000-year-old message from the past with the words “slave,” “king” and “judge.” These cutting-edge investigations illuminate the legend of Solomon and reveal the source of the great wealth that powered the first mighty Biblical kingdoms.

Bill Keller’s career with the Times has stretched for more than 25 years, spanning a period of great change in the industry and the world. Keller began his career with the paper in 1984 as a Washington-based correspondent. He later served as bureau chief in Moscow, winning a Pulitzer in 1989 for his coverage of the breakup of the Soviet Union. After that assignment, Keller became chief of the Johannesburg bureau. He followed that with time as foreign editor, managing editor and an eight-year run as executive editor. Keller now writes a columnist and writer for the paper.

Join us as Overheard with Evan Smith launches a second season of great conversation with fascinating people, always on the news and always with a sense of humor. The show features in-depth interviews with a mix of guests from politics, the arts, literature, journalism, business, sports and more, and reaches PBS stations from California to Florida. We hope you’ll be there for the second season of this exciting program.Overheard airs on KLRU at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Fridays and 12:30 p.m. Sundays. Episodes are also available online at klru.org/overheard

PBS LearningMedia AND KLRULAUNCH NEW DIGITAL EDUCATION SERVICE WITH WORLD-CLASS CONTENT FROM PUBLIC MEDIA AND ITS PARTNERS

— Free Innovative Classroom-Ready Media Available to Every Teacher and Student Across Central Texas –

(Austin, TX), June 29, 2011 – To foster classroom innovation and engagement, PBS member station KLRU today launched PBS LearningMedia(klru.pbslearningmedia.org), a free service for all teachers, students and families in Central Texas created in collaboration with PBS and WGBH, and their producing partners WNET and KET. In addition to a rich public media library, PBS LearningMedia has content contributed from other publicly funded organizations, including the National Archives, the Library of Congress and NPR, as well as content funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Education, to deliver thousands of resources for use in the classroom and with home-schoolers.

“As America’s largest classroom, PBS and our local stations are helping to re-imagine classroom learning and is partnering with our producers and teachers to engage students to accelerate academic achievement,” said Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO. “PBS LearningMedia is a key part of the solution to one of the nation’s biggest challenges – improving student progress to build our future workforce.” more →

To foster classroom innovation and engagement, PBS member station KLRU launched PBS LearningMedia(klru.pbslearningmedia.org), a free service for all teachers, students and families in Central Texas created in collaboration with PBS and WGBH, and their producing partners WNET and KET. In addition to a rich public media library, PBS LearningMedia has content contributed from other publicly funded organizations, including the National Archives, the Library of Congress and NPR, as well as content funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Education, to deliver thousands of resources for use in the classroom and with home-schoolers. Read the press release about this project here